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1. HAPPY LEARNING ACADEMY
CLASS 11TH
CBSE
ENGLICH NOTES
BY :-VISHAL SIR
(M:-9408825980)

2. Chapter 1:- The Portrait of a Lady
Passage: My grandmother,like everybody’s grandmother,was an old woman. She had been
old and wrinkled for the twenty years that I had known her. People said that she had once
been young and pretty and had even had a husband,but that was hard to believe. My
grandfather’s portraithung above the mantelpiece in the drawing-room.He wore a big
turban and loose-fittingclothes. His long,white beard covered the bestpart of his chestand
he looked at leasta hundred years old. He did not lookthe sort of person who would have a
wife or children. He looked as if he could only have lots and lots of grandchildren. As formy
grandmotherbeing young and pretty, the thoughtwas almostrevolting.She often told us of
the games she used to play as a child. Thatseemed quite absurd and undignified on her
part and we treated it like the fables of the Prophets she used to tell us.
Word Meaning:
Wrinkled-having linesorfolds
Portrait- painting orpicture
Mantelpiece- a structure of wood, marble,or stone above and around a fireplace.
the thought was almost revolting-itwas very hard for the authorto believe
Revolting – unpleasant
Absurd – Illogical
Undignified- disrespectful
Fables- fictitious storieswith a moral teaching
Prophets- saints
Explanation of the above passage:The authortalks abouthis grandmother. He had known
her for the pasttwenty years and she had always been old and wrinkled. He was told that
she was once young and pretty and had a husband. His grandfather’s portraithung on the
wall,in which he wore loose fitted clothes,a turban and had a long,white- coloured beard
that reached his chest.
He also appeared very old and the author thoughtthat he was someone who could have
many grandchildrenbutnot a wife or children. The authorcould neverimagine thatonce
his grandmotherwas young and pretty. He could not connectto this idea.
She used to tell him and his cousins aboutherchildhoodmemorieslike the games she used
to play as a child. They found these stories illogicaland disrespectfulbecauseitwas beyond
their imagination to thinkthat grandmotherwas once a child and played such games.
They thoughtthat her life’s stories were like the other moral stories which she used to tell
them.
Passage: She had alwaysbeen shortand fat and slightly bent. Herface was a criss-crossof
wrinkles running from everywhere to everywhere. No,we were certain she had always been
as we had known her. Old,so terribly old that she could nothave grown older,and had
stayed at the same age for twenty years. She could neverhave been pretty; but she was
always beautiful. She hobbledaboutthe house in spotless white with one hand resting on
her waistto balance her stoop and the other telling the beads of her rosary. Her silverlocks
were scattered untidily overher pale,puckered face, and her lips constantlymoved in
inaudible prayer. Yes,she was beautiful. She was like the winterlandscape in the
mountains,an expanse of pure white serenity breathing peace and contentment.
Word Meaning:
Criss- cross – a pattern of intersecting straightlines

3. Hobbled – walked in an awkward way
spotless white – she wore clean,white coloured dresses
Stoop – bend one’s body forward
Rosary- a string of beads for keeping countof numberof chants made of a religiousprayer
Locks-hair
Scattered – disorganized
Untidily – notneat
Puckered – a face contractinto wrinkles
Inaudible- unable to be heard
Serenity – the state of being peaceful and calm
an expanse of pure white serenity – refers to the calm,relaxed and peaceful characterof
the author’s grandmother
Contentment – a state of happiness and satisfaction
Explanation of the above passage:His grandmotherwas short,fat, slightly bentin posture
and her face had lots of wrinkles. She seemed so old and she had been the same forthe
past twenty years. According to the author, she was beautiful butnot pretty.
She walked around the house in an awkward way, wearing spotlesswhite clotheswith
beads of the rosary hanging from one hand and the other hand rested on her back for
support. She had silver-colored hairwhich was notneatly combed and was disorganized.
She was constantly chanting prayers. He compares herto the winterlandscape in the
mountains which has a peaceful and calm feel. She was a live example of a pure, white,
peace – emitting entity.
Passage: My grandmotherand I were good friends. My parents left me with her when they
went to live in the city and we were constantly together. She used to wake me up in the
morning and get me ready for school. She said hermorning prayerin a monotonoussing-
song while she bathed and dressed me in the hope that I would listen and get to know it by
heart; I listened because I loved her voice butnever bothered to learn it. Then she would
fetch my wooden slate which she had already washed and plastered with yellow chalk,a tiny
earthen ink-potand a red pen, tie them all in a bundle and hand it to me.
After a breakfastof a thick,stale chapatti with a little butter and sugarspread on it, we went
to school. She carried several stale chapattiswith herfor the village dogs.
Word Meaning:
Monotonous – dull and boring
Bothered- to be concerned
Fetch – go for and then bring backsomething forsomeone
Slate-a flat plate of slate formerly used for writing on in schools
Plastered-covered with a layer of plaster
Earthen- made of baked or fired clay
Stale- no longerfresh and pleasantto eat; hard, musty,or dry.
Explanation of the above passage:The authorlived with her in the village.They were good
friends. His parents left him with her to settle in the city. The author’s grandmotherused to
wake him up every morning and get him ready for school. She would recite hermorning
prayers while she bathed and dressed him up and he loved her voice butwould not try to
memorize a word of what she spoke. She would make his things ready like a wooden slate,a
tiny earthen inkpot, and a red pen. He would eat a thick stale chapatti with butter and sugar
spread on it. They both used to walk to school and his grandmothercarried stale chapattis
with her to feed the village dogs.

4. Passage: My grandmotheralwayswentto school with me because the school was attached
to the temple. The priesttaught us the alphabetand morning prayer. While the children sat
in rows on eitherside of the verandah singingthe alphabetor the prayer in a chorus,my
grandmothersatinside reading the scriptures. When we had both finished,we would walk
back together. This time the village dogs wouldmeetus at the temple door. They followed
us to our home growling and fighting with each otherfor the chapattis we threw to them.
When my parents were comfortablysettled in the city, they sentfor us.
That was a turning-pointin ourfriendship. Although we shared the same room,my
grandmotherno longercame to school with me. I used to go to an English schoolin a motor
bus. There were no dogs in the streets and she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of
our city house.
Word Meaning:
Scriptures – the sacred writings of a religion
Growling – making a low guttural sound in the throat
Courtyard- verandah
Explanation of the above passage:His grandmotherwouldaccompany him to the school as
the temple was attached to the school and she used to visitthe temple daily. On one side,
he would siton the verandah with other children,would sing the alphabetand prayers in
the chorus. On the other hand, she would sitin the temple to read the scriptures. After
finishing,they would walkback home together.
The village dogs metthem at the village door. They would follow them to their home,
growling and fighting with each otherfor the stale chapatis thatshe fed them. When his
parents got settled in the city, they called them. Thatwas the turning point of his friendship
with his grandmother. They shared the same room but she no longerwould give him
company to his school. He started going to an English medium schooland a motorbus
would come to pick and drop him. There were no dogs in the streets whom she could feed
as she did in the village. So,she started feeding sparrows in the verandah of theirhouse.
Passage: As the years rolled by we saw less of each other. For some time she continued to
wake me up and get me ready for school. When I came backshe would ask me what the
teacherhad taught me. I would tell her English words and little things of western science
and learning,the law of gravity,Archimedes’ Principle,the world being round, etc. This made
her unhappy. She could not help me with my lessons. She did not believe in the things they
taught at the English school and was distressedthatthere was no teaching aboutGod and
the scriptures. One day I announced thatwe were being given music lessons. She was very
disturbed. To her music had lewd associations. Itwas the monopoly of harlots and beggars
and not meantfor gentlefolk. She said nothing buther silence meantdisapproval.
She rarely talked to me after that.
Word Meaning:
Years rolled by-time passed
Distressed – sufferfrom extremely sorrow,anxiety or pain
Lewd Association – IndecentorObscene
Harlots – Prostitutes
Gentlefolk – People of noble birth
Explanation of the above passage:As the years passed in the city,their interaction reduced.
For some time,she continued to wake him up and would get him ready for school. She
would askhim what he had learned in school thatday. The scientific terminology and
English words made herunhappy. As she didn’tknow the language,she could nothelp him

5. with the lessons. As his new school nevertaughthim about God and religiousscriptures,
this made her sad. She did not approve of such an education. When she came to know that
he was getting music lessons,itdisturbed her. According to her, music was indecentand it
was an art for the beggars and prostitutes,and not for those belonging to decentfamilies.
She didn’tlike that he learned music,so,she stopped talking to him.
Passage: When I went up to University,I was given a room of my own. The commonlinkof
friendship was snapped.My grandmotheraccepted herseclusion with resignation. She
rarely lefther spinning-wheelto talk to anyone. From sunrise to sunsetshe sat by her wheel
spinning and reciting prayers. Only in the afternoon she relaxed for a while to feed the
sparrows. Whileshe satin the verandah breaking the bread into little bits, hundreds of little
birds collectedround her creating a veritable bedlam of chirrupings. Some came and
perched on her legs,others on her shoulders. Some even saton her head. She smiled but
never shooed them away. It used to be the happiesthalf-hourof the day for her.
Word Meaning:
Snapped- breaksuddenly and completely
Seclusion – the state of being private and away from the people
accepted her seclusion with resignation- the grandmotheraccepteda lonely life as she
accepted the separation from her grandson withoutobjection
Spinning-wheel – a householdmachine with a wheel attached to it for spinning yarn
A veritable bedlam of chirrupings – refers to the noise and confusion caused by the
chirrupingsof the sparrows
Veritable – use to describe something which is very interesting orunusual
Bedlam – confusion
Chirrupings – the noise of a small bird
Perched – alightorrest on something
Shooed – make a person or animal go away by shouting orsaying ‘shoo’
Explanation of the above passage:As the author went to university,he had a room of his
own. The common linkof his friendship with his grandmotherthatthey had when they
shared the same room,was changed now and thus, his friendship with herended. She
became more private and spenther whole day spinningwheel. From sunrise to sunset,she
would sitand silently recite herprayers. In the afternoon, she used to feed sparrows in the
verandah. Breaking the bread into small pieces,she would feed hundreds of birds. The birds
would gatheraround her, some satnear her, some on her legs,some on her shoulders and
few on her head. She never shooed them,but always smiled. She was the happiestin that
half an hour during the whole day.
Passage: When I decided to go abroad for further studies,I was sure my grandmotherwould
be upset. I would be away for five years, and at her age one could nevertell. But my
grandmothercould. She was noteven sentimental. She came to leave me at the railway
station but did not talk or show any emotion. Herlips moved in prayer, her mind was lostin
prayer. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary. Silently she kissed my
forehead,and when I left I cherished the moistimprintas perhaps the last sign of physical
contactbetween us. But that was not so. After five years I came backhome and was metby
her at the station. She did not look a day older. She still had no time for words,and while
she clasped me in her arms I could hearher reciting herprayers. Even on the firstday of my
arrival,her happiestmoments were with her sparrows whom she fed longerand with
frivolous rebukes.
Word Meaning:
Sentimental – a feeling of nostaglia,sadnessortenderness; an emotionalfeeling

6. Beads – a small piece of glass orstone threaded with others to make a rosary or necklace
Cherished – hold somethingdear
Moist- wet
Imprint – impression orstamp
Clasped – hold tightly
Frivolous – nothaving any serious purpose,light-hearted
Rebuke – disapprovalof something orsomeone
frivolous rebukes – lighthearted scoldings
Explanation of the above passage:When the author decided to go abroad for further
studies,he believed it would be the lasttime he would see her as he would be gone for five
long years. As they all reached the station,she held him tightly and kissed his forehead. He
thoughtit was the lastphysical contactwith her. The wet impression of her hand was dear
to him. She was not sentimental atall. When he came back after five years, she came to
meet him at the station. She looked justthe way she did five years ago, not a day older. She
held him again in her arms and was still reciting herprayers.
He noticed on the firstday of his arrival that only sparrows would make her happy.
Passage: In the evening a change came overher. She did not pray. She collectedthe women
of the neighbourhood,gotan old drum and started to sing. For several hours she thumped
the sagging skins of the dilapidateddrum and sang of the home-comingof warriors. We had
to persuade her to stop to avoid overstraining. Thatwas the firsttime since I had known her
that she did not pray. The next morning she was taken ill. It was a mild fever and the doctor
told us that it would go. Butmy grandmotherthoughtdifferently. She told us that her end
was near. She said that, since only a few hours before the close of the lastchapterof her life
she had omitted to pray, she was not going to waste any more time talking to us.
Word Meaning:
Thumped-hit
Sagging – sinking downwards
Dilapidated – in a state of despairor ruin
the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum- The loose surface of the worn out drum
Persuade – to talk someone into doing something,requeste
Overstraining-overdoingsomething
Omitted – leave outorexclude something
Explanation of the above passage:An evening,she didn’t follow herregularroutine of
praying. She collected a few women from the neighbourhood,gota drum and started
singing with them. She thumped the ruined part of the drum and sang along. The whole
family persuaded herto stop as she mightget ill due to exhaustation. The next morning,she
fell ill. It was a mild fever. The doctors told them that it would go away but she took it
differently. According to her, she would die soon as her end was near. She started chanting
prayers as she didn’t wantto waste her lasthours in talking to anyone.
Passage: Weprotested. Butshe ignored ourprotests. She lay peacefully in bed praying and
telling herbeads. Even before we could suspect,herlips stopped movingand the rosary fell
from her lifelessfingers.A peaceful pallorspread on her face and we knew that she was
dead.
Word Meaning:
Protested – express an objection againstsomethingorsomeone
Pallor – an unhealthy pale appearance
Explanation of the above passage:The family protested,tried to stop her but she lay
peacefully on herbed, chanting prayers and doing her beads. Suddenly,she stopped and

7. the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers. Acalm,pale appearance spread on her face and she
was dead.
Passage: Welifted heroff the bed and, as is customary,laid heron the ground and covered
her with a red shroud. After a few hours of mourning we lefther alone to make
arrangements forher funeral. In the evening we went to her room with a crude stretcherto
take her to be cremated. The sun was setting and had lither room and verandah with a
blaze of golden light. We stopped half-way in the courtyard.
All over the verandah and in her room right up to where she lay dead and stiff wrapped in
the red shroud, thousands of sparrows satscattered on the floor. There was no chirruping.
We feltsorry for the birds and my motherfetched some bread for them. She broke it into
little crumbs,the way my grandmotherused to, and threw it to them. The sparrows tookno
notice of the bread. When we carried my grandmother’s corpse off,they flew away quietly.
Next morning the sweepersweptthe bread crumbs into the dustbin.
Word Meaning:
Customary – traditional
Crude – in a natural state, roughly made
Cremated – dispose of orburn a body after it is dead
Blaze – a very large burning fire
Shroud – a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead person
Corpse-dead body
Explanation of the above passage:The family lifted herfrom the bed, laid her on the ground
and wrapped her with a red- coloured cloth.Thousandsof sparrows satsilently nearher.
The author’s motherfetched some bread for the birds but they didn’teat any. They flew
away later as the family carried the dead body. The sweeperremoved the crumbs the next
morning. The birds were so sensitive.They did not want to eat bread but were mourning the
death of the one who had fed them for so many days.

8. Chapter 1:-The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
Passage – ONE day backthere in the good old days when I was nine and the world was full
of every imaginable kind of magnificence,and life was still a delightful and mysterious
dream, my cousin Mourad,who was considered crazy by everybody who knew him except
me, came to my house at four in the morning and woke me up tapping on the window of my
room.
Aram, he said.
I jumped out of bed and looked out of the window. I couldn’tbelieve whatI saw.
It wasn’tmorning yet,but it was summerand with daybreak not many minutes around the
cornerof the world it was lightenough for me to know I wasn’tdreaming.
Word meaning
Magnificence – extremely beautiful
Daybreak– dawn
Explanation of the above passage – One day nine-year-oldAram was asleep and was in a
world of extremely beautiful imagination. His life was pleasantand kind of, in a mysterious
dream. His cousin Mourad showed up on the window of his room at 4 in the morning. He
called Aram,who jumped out of his bed and still couldn’tbelieve whathe saw out of the
window. Itwas dawn and there was lightenough outside to make him see outside what
made him believe he wasn’t dreaming.
Passage – My cousin Mourad was sitting on a beautiful white horse.
I stuck my head out of the window and rubbed my eyes.
Yes, he said in Armenian. It’s a horse. You’re not dreaming.
Make it quickif you wantto ride.
I knew my cousin Mourad enjoyed being alive more than anybody else who had ever fallen
into the world by mistake,but this was more than even I could believe.
In the first place,my earliestmemories had been memoriesof horses and my firstlongings
had been longings to ride.
This was the wonderful part.
Word meaning
Armenian – official languageof Armenia branch
Longings– an aching desire
Explanation of the above passage – Mourad was sitting on a white horse. Aram rubbed his
eyes and stuckout his head out of the window. Mourad assured him itwas not a dream. He
asked if he wanted a ride, he mustmake it quick. Mourad was the type of person who
enjoyed being alive buthe couldn’tbelieve thathe was seeing a horse in front of him.
Aram’s earliestmemory was of horses and he always wanted to ride one. This was the
wonderful part that he was actually going to ride a horse for real.
Passage – In the second place,we were poor.
This was the part that wouldn’tpermitme to believe whatI saw.
We were poor. We had no money. Ourwhole tribe was poverty stricken. Every branch of the
Garoghlanian1 familywas living in the mostamazing and comicalpoverty in the world.
Nobody could understandwhere we ever gotmoney enough to keep us with food in our
bellies,noteven the old men of the family. Mostimportantof all,though,we were famous
for our honesty. We had been famous for our honesty for somethinglike eleven centuries,
even when we had been the wealthiestfamily in whatwe liked to think was the world. We
were proud first, honestnext, and after that we believed in right and wrong. None of us
would take advantage of anybody in the world, letalone steal.

9. Word meaning
Comical – funny
Garoghlanian– an Armenian tribe
Explanation of the above passage – Aram’s family was poorand had no money so it was
difficultforhim to believe in what he saw outside his house. He belonged to the
Garoghlanianfamilythatwas strictly and funnily in poverty. They didn’t even know how they
managed to get food for themselves every day. Although his tribe was poor, they were
known for theirhonesty for eleven centuries. They were honest, proud and always believed
in rightand wrong. No one from their family would eversteal anything or would take
advantage of anyone in the world.
Passage – Consequently,even though I could see the horse,so magnificent; even though I
could smell it,so lovely; even though I could hearit breathing,so exciting; I
couldn’t believe the horse had anything to do with my cousin Mourad or with me or with any
of the other members of our family,asleep orawake, because I knew my cousin Mourad
couldn’thave boughtthe horse, and if he couldn’thave boughtit he musthave stolen it, and
I refused to believe he had stolen it.
No memberof the Garoghlanianfamily could be a thief.
I stared firstat my cousin and then at the horse. There was a pious stillnessand humourin
each of them which on the one hand delighted me and on the other frightened me.
Word meaning
Consequently – as a result
Pious – religious
Explanation of the above passage – Aram was so excited that he was seeing a horse that
was so pleasantand beautiful. He could smellitand hear it breathing and still couldn’t
believe that Mourad or anyone in the family could afford a horse. He was thinking if Mourad
had stolen the horse but he didn’tbelieve it as he thought no one in his family could be a
thief. He stared at his cousin and then at the horse. There was religious motionlessnessand
wittiness in both Mourad and the horse as one charmed him and the other scared him.
Passage – Mourad,I said,where did you steal this horse?
Leap out of the window,he said,if you want to ride.
It was true, then. He had stolen the horse. There was no question aboutit. He had come to
invite me to ride or not, as I chose.
Well,it seemed to me stealing a horse for a ride was not the same thing as stealing
something else,such as money. Forall I knew, maybe it wasn’tstealing at all. If you were
crazy abouthorses the way my cousin Mourad and I were, it wasn’tstealing.
It wouldn’tbecome stealinguntil we offered to sell the horse, which of course,I knew we
would neverdo.
Let me put on some clothes,I said.
All right, he said, but hurry.
I leaped into my clothes. I jumped down to the yard from the window and leaped up onto
the horse behind my cousin Mourad.
Word meaning
Leap out– jump out from a place
Explanation of the above passage – He asked Mourad if he had stolen the horse. Mourad
replied if he wants a ride he mustjump out of the window. Aram was convinced thatthe
horse was stolen by Mourad. He came to visithim to ask him to ride it with him. Aram tried
to convince himselfthatit was not the same as stealing money as they both were so crazy
aboutriding a horse. He thought that it would not be called stealing until they decide to sell

10. it which they would neverdo. Aram said he will wearsome clothes and come outside. He
jumped down to his yard from his room’s window and saton the horse behind his cousin.
Passage – Thatyear we lived at the edge of town, on WalnutAvenue.
Behind ourhouse was the country: vineyards,orchards,irrigationditches,and country
roads. In less than three minutes we were on Olive Avenue, and then the horse began to
trot. The air was new and lovely to breathe. The feel of the horse running was wonderful. My
cousin Mourad who was considered one of the craziestmembers of ourfamily began to
sing. I mean,he began to roar.
Every family has a crazy streak in it somewhere,and my cousin Mourad was considered the
natural descendantof the crazy streak in our tribe. Before him was our uncle Khosrove,an
enormous man with a powerful head of blackhairand the largestmoustache in the San
Joaquin Valley2,a man so furious in temper,so irritable,so impatientthat he stopped
anyone from talking by roaring, It is no harm; pay no attention to it.
Word meaning
Vineyard – plantation of grapevines used in winemaking
Orchards – a piece of land of the plantation of fruits
Irrigation ditches– manmade channelused to deliverwater to homes,industries and other
uses
Trot – proceed with something
Descendant – a system that develops from an earliersimple version
Streak– race
Enormous– huge
San Joaquin Valley – one of the long interiorvalleys of California
Explanation of the above passage – Aram lived atthe edge of the town on WalnutAvenue.
There were orchards,vineyards,irrigation ditchesand country roads behind his house. They
were on Olive Avenue within three minutes and the horse started to proceed. The air felt
new and lovely to breathe. Aram felt wonderful sitting on the horse which was running.
Mourad started singing loudly who was considered one of the craziestmembers of the
family. There is one crazy person in every family and Mourad was the one natural
descendantof a crazy race in their tribe. Before Mourad was Uncle Khosrove was the one
huge man with blackhair and largestmoustache in the valley. He had an energetic temper
and was impatientwhich was irritating.He used to make anyone stop talking by roaring and
say ‘it is no harm,pay no attention to it.’
Passage – Thatwas all,no matter what anybody happened to be talking about. Once it was
his own son Arak running eightblocks to the barber’s shop where his father was having his
moustache trimmed to tell him their house was on fire. This man Khosrove sat up in the
chairand roared, It is no harm; pay no attention to it. The barber said,But the boy says your
house is on fire. So Khosrove roared,Enough,it is no harm,I say.
My cousin Mourad was considered the natural descendantof this man,although Mourad’s
father was Zorab, who was practical and nothing else. That’s how itwas in our tribe. A man
could be the father of his son’s flesh,but that did not mean that he was also the father of his
spirit. The distribution of the various kinds of spiritof our tribe had been from the beginning
capricious and vagrant.
We rode and my cousin Mourad sang. Forall anybody knew we were still in the old country
where, at leastaccording to some of our neighbours,we belonged. We letthe horse run as
long as it felt like running.

11. Word meaning
Capricious – inconsistentchange of mood
Vagrant – a person withouta settled home or work
Explanation of the above passage – Uncle Khosrove was alwaysthis rigid no matterwho
happened to be talking aboutin front of him. Once his own son, Arav, came running to him
when he was getting his moustache trimmed atthe barber’s shop. He told him the house
was on fire to which he roared and said the same dialogue.Barberwas amused and tried to
talk to him about it but as usual,Khosrove roared again and did not pay attention to it.
Mourad was considered to be a natural descendantof this man but he was not his son. His
father was Zorab who was a practical person.A child could looklike his fatherbut doesn’t
mean he gets his nature and attitude justthe same. There are differentkinds of people in
their tribes – moody and withoutany settled work or home. They were still riding the horse
and Mourad was still singingloudly.They were still in the countrysidewhere accordingto
their neighbours,they belonged to.
Passage – Atlast my cousin Mourad said,Getdown. I wantto ride alone.
Will you let me ride alone? I asked.
That is up to the horse,my cousin said.Getdown.
The horse will letme ride, I said.
We shall see,he said. Don’tforget that I have a way with a horse.
Well,I said,any way you have with a horse,I have also.
For the sake of your safety, he said,let us hope so. Get down.
All right, I said,but rememberyou’ve got to let me try to ride alone.
I got down and my cousin Mourad kicked his heels into the horse and shouted, Vazire, run.
The horse stood on its hind legs,snorted, and burst into a fury of speed that was the
loveliestthing I had ever seen. My cousin Mourad raced the horse across a field of dry grass
to an irrigation ditch,crossed the ditch on the horse,and five minutes laterreturned,
dripping wet.
Word meaning
Vazire – a name
Fury – anger
Explanation of the above passage – Mourad asked him to get down as he wanted to ride
alone. Aram asked if he could ride the horse alone. He said it is up to the horse if he wants
to ride you along and asked him to get Mourad down again. Aram tried to convince him that
the horse would let him ride to which Mourad said that we shall see and told Aram that he
had a way with a horse. Aram told him that he had it too. Mourad told him to get down and
said it is for his own safety, let us hope so. Aram got down while telling him thathe will ride
the horse alone. Mourad kicked his heels in the horse and shouted run to him. The horse
stood on its hind legs,breathed out and ran into a speed. Mourad raced the horse across a
field of dry grass and irrigation ditches. When they arrived five minutes later,they were wet.
Passage – The sun was coming up.
Now it’s my turn to ride, I said.
My cousin Mourad gotoff the horse.
Ride, he said.
I leaped to the backof the horse and for a momentknew the mostawful fear imaginable.
The horse did not move.
Kickinto his muscles,my cousin Mourad said.Whatare you waiting for? We’ve got to take
him backbefore everybody in the world is up and about.

12. I kicked into the muscles of the horse. Once again it reared and snorted. Then it began to
run. I didn’t know what to do.
Instead of running across the field to the irrigation ditch the horse ran down the road to the
vineyard of Dikran Halabian where it began to leap overvines. The horse leaped overseven
vines before I fell. Then it continued running.
My cousin Mourad came running down the road.
I’m not worried aboutyou, he shouted. We’ve gotto get that horse. You go this way and I’ll
go this way. If you come upon him,be kindly. I’ll be near.
Word meaning
Reared – raised
Snorted – breathed out
Explanation of the above passage – The sun was almostup and Aram told him it was his
turn to ride. Mourad got off and Aram sat on the horse. He was fearful and the horse did
not move. Mourad tried to guide him by saying thathe should try to kickinto his muscles
and told him that he should hurry because they need to take him back before everyone
woke up. Aram kicked into the musclesof the horse to which the horse again raised and
breathed out. The horse began to run and Aram didn’tknow what to do next. The horse
started going towards the road that leads to the vineyard of Dikran Halabian. Itbegan to
move over vines and Aram fell down. The horse continued to run and Mourad came running
down the road towards him. Mourad told him that he is not worried abouthim but they
need to find the horse. They both went differentways to find him. He instructed Aram to be
kind if he saw him anywhere.
Passage – I continued down the road and my cousin,Mourad wentacross the field toward
the irrigation ditch.
It took him half an hour to find the horse and bring him back.
All right, he said, jump on. The whole world is awake now.
Whatwill we do? I said.
Well,he said,we’ll eithertake him backor hide him until tomorrow morning.
He didn’t sound worried and I knew he’d hide him and not take him back. Notfor a while,at
any rate.
Where will we hide him? I said.
I know a place,he said.
How long ago did you steal this horse? I said.
It suddenly dawned on me that he had been taking these early morning rides forsome time
and had come for me this morning only because he knew how much I longed to ride.
Word meaning
Dawned– appeared
Explanation of the above passage – Aram looked forthe horse down the road and Mourad
went towards the irrigation ditch. He came backafter thirty minutes with the horse. He told
him to jump over as the whole world was awake by then. Aram asked what would they do
now to which Mourad told him abouttwo options – take him backor hide him until
tomorrow. Mourad was not worried and Aram knew that Mourad would hide him
somewhere and nottake him backfor a while. Aram asked him where Mourad would hide
him,Mourad told him abouta place he knew which would be perfect as a hidden spot. Aram
eagerly asked him when he stole the horse. It appeared to him that Mourad had been taking
the horse for morning rides forquite some time and he showed up this morning to ask
Aram to ride along because he knew he was longing to ride one.

13. Passage – Who said anything aboutstealing a horse? he said.
Anyhow,I said,how long ago did you begin riding every morning?
Notuntil this morning,he said.
Are you telling the truth? I said.
Of course not, he said,but if we are found out, that’s whatyou’re to say. I don’twant both of
us to be liars. All you know is that we started riding this morning.
All right, I said.
He walked the horse quietly to the barn of a deserted vineyard which at one time had been
the pride of a farmer named Fetvajian. There were some oats and dry alfalfa in the barn.
We began walking home.
It wasn’teasy,he said,to get the horse to behave so nicely.
At firstit wanted to run wild,but, as I’ve told you, I have a way with a horse. I can get it to
want to do anything I want it to do.
Horses understand me.
Word meaning
Alfalfa– a flowering plant
Explanation of the above passage – Mourad shuts him down by asking a counter-question
aboutwho talks about stealing a horse. Aram tried to change the question by asking him
since how long was he riding the horse every morning. Mourad told him thatmorning was
the first time. Aram was not convinced and asked him if he was telling the truth. Mourad
said,if anyone asked Aram, he should say that it was true. He further added that he didn’t
want them to be liars butthey had to say only this. Aram agreed and Mourad walked the
horse quietly towards the barn of a deserted vineyard. It belonged to a farmernamed
Fetvajian. The barn had some oats and alfalfa. They started walking home. Mourad told
Aram that it was not easy to get the horse to behave nicely as it wanted to run wild at first.
He told him again that he had a way with a horse and he could get them to do whatever he
wants to. Horses understood him.
Passage – How do you do it? I said.
I have an understanding with a horse,he said.
Yes, but what sort of an understanding? I said.
A simple and honestone,he said.
Well,I said,I wish I knew how to reach an understandinglike thatwith a horse.
You’re still a small boy,he said. When you get to be thirteen you’ll know how to do it.
I went home and ate a hearty breakfast.
That afternoon my uncle Khosrove came to our house for coffee and cigarettes. He sat in
the parlour, sipping and smoking and remembering the old country. Then another visitor
arrived, a farmernamed John Byro, an Assyrian who,out of loneliness,had learned to speak
Armenian. My mother broughtthe lonely visitorcoffee and tobacco and he rolled a cigarette
and sipped and smoked,and then at last,sighing sadly,he said,My white horse which was
stolen lastmonth is still gone — I cannotunderstand it.
My uncle Khosrove became very irritated and shouted,It’s no harm. Whatis the loss of a
horse? Haven’twe all lostthe homeland?Whatis this crying overa horse?
Word meaning
Parlour – a sitting space in a house
Explanation of the above passage – Aram amusinglyasked him how he controlled the horse
to which Mourad said he has an understanding with the horse. Aram asked him what sortof
understanding did he have with him to which Mourad told him – a simple and honestone.
Aram confessedhe would also like to know how to have an understandingwith a horse.

14. Mourad assured Aram by saying that he is still a small boy,he will learn when he will be
thirteen. Aram went home and ate breakfast. That day, his uncle Khosrove visited his house
for coffee and cigarettes. He sat in the parlourand was rememberingthe old country when
a person came to visithim. He was John Byro, a farmer, who learned to speakArmenian
because of loneliness.His motherboughtByro some coffee and tobacco. He sipped and
smoked and told them about his missing white horse who was stolen lastmonth and he is
not able to find it. Khosrove roared again that it’s no harm and shouted that why he was
crying overa losthorse when they had losttheir homeland.
Passage – Thatmay be all right for you, a city dweller,to say,John
Byro said,but whatof my surrey? What good is a surrey withouta horse?
Pay no attention to it, my uncle Khosrove roared.
I walked ten miles to get here, John Byro said.
You have legs,my uncle Khosrove shouted.
My left leg pains me, the farmer said.
Pay no attention to it, my uncle Khosrove roared.
That horse costme sixty dollars,the farmersaid.
I spit on money, my uncle Khosrove said.
He got up and stalked out of the house,slamming the screen door.
My motherexplained.
He has a gentle heart, she said. It is simply thathe is homesickand such a large man.
The farmerwent away and I ran over to my cousin Mourad’shouse.
He was sitting under a peach tree, trying to repair the hurt wing of a young robin which
could notfly. He was talking to the bird.
Whatis it? he said.
The farmer, John Byro, I said. He visited ourhouse. He wants his horse. You’ve had it a
month. I want you to promise notto take it backuntil I learn to ride.
Word meaning
City Dweller – a person who lives in a city
Surrey – a country in South-EastEngland
Explanation of the above passage – John replied to Khosrove thathe would not bother as he
lives in a city but his country was of no good withouthis horse. Khosrove shouted thathe
mustnot pay any attention to it. John told him that he walked down ten miles to come here.
Khosrove shouted thathe has legs to which John said his leftleg hurt. Khosrove again tried
to shut him down by saying that he should notpay any attention to it. John shared that the
horse costhim sixty dollars. Khosrove said he would spiton the money after which John got
up and went away slamming the door. Aram’s mothertold him that John had a gentle heart
as he was homesickand he was such a large man. Aram went to Mourad, he was sitting
under a peach tree talking to a robin bird. He was repairing the wing that was hurt. Aram
told him about John Byro and how he visited theirhouse and he wanted his horse. Aram
asked him not to return the horse until he learns to ride it.
Passage – It will take you a year to learn to ride, my cousin Mourad said.
We could keep the horse a year, I said.
My cousin Mourad leaped to his feet.
What? he roared. Are you inviting a memberof the Garoghlanian family to steal? The horse
mustgo backto its true owner.
When? I said.
In six months atthe latest,he said.
He threw the bird into the air. The bird tried hard, almostfell twice,butat lastflew away,

15. high and straight.
Early every morning fortwo weeks my cousin Mourad and I took the horse out of the barn
of the deserted vineyard where we were hiding itand rode it, and every morning the horse,
when it was my turn to ride alone,leaped overgrape vines and small trees and threw me
and ran away. Nevertheless,I hoped in time to learn to ride the way my cousin Mourad
rode.
One morning on the way to Fetvajian’s deserted vineyard we ran into the farmer John Byro
who was on his way to town.
Let me do the talking,my cousin Mourad said. I have a way with farmers.
Explanation of the above passage – Mourad told Aram that it will take him a whole yearto
learn to ride a horse. Aram said they could keep him for a year then. Mourad stood up on
his feet and shouted at him about encouraging him to be a thief in spite of being a member
of the Garoghlanian family.He declared that the horse should go to his true owner. Aram
asked when would they have to return the horse to which Mourad said in six months. He
threw the bird into the air, it almostfell twice butflew at last. For the next two weeks,they
both would take the horse out of the barn and ride it. Butevery morning the horse would
throw Aram and run away wheneverhe tried to ride it. He still hoped he would learn to ride
it the way his cousin did. Once on the way to the deserted vineyard to hide the horse again,
they met John Byro who was on his way to town. Mourad insisted on talking to him as he
had a way with farmers.
Passage – Good morning,John Byro,my cousin Mourad said to the farmer.
The farmerstudied the horse eagerly.
Good morning,son of my friends,he said. Whatis the name of your horse?
My Heart, my cousin Mourad said in Armenian.
A lovely name,John Byro said,for a lovely horse. I could swearit is the horse that was stolen
from me many weeks ago.
May I look into his mouth?
Of course,Mourad said.
The farmerlooked into the mouth of the horse.
Tooth for tooth, he said. I would swearit is my horse if I didn’tknow yourparents. The fame
of your family forhonesty is well known to me. Yet the horse is the twin of my horse. A
suspiciousman would believe his eyes instead of his heart. Good day, my young friends.
Explanation of the above passage – Mourad wishedhim Good Morning and Byro saw the
horse carefully. Byro wished them backand asked the name of the horse. Mourad said ‘My
Heart’ in Armenian language.Byro complimented thatit was a lovely name for a lovely
horse. He swore that it was his horse that was stolen weeks ago. He asked if he could look
into his mouth. After looking from tooth to tooth, it said itwas his horse if he didn’tknow his
parents. He said the horse was a twin of his horse. He further said that his family is all for
honesty but the horse looks justlike the one he lost. A man who is suspiciouswould easily
believe his eyes and not his heart. He wished them and went away.
Passage – Good day,John Byro, my cousin Mourad said.
Early the following morning we tookthe horse to John Byro’s vineyard and put it in the barn.
The dogs followed us around withoutmaking a sound.
The dogs,I whispered to my cousin Mourad. I thoughtthey would bark.
They would at somebodyelse,he said. I have a way with dogs.
My cousin Mourad puthis arms around the horse,pressed his nose into the horse’s nose,
patted it, and then we went away.
That afternoon John Byro came to our house in his surrey and showed my motherthe horse

16. that had been stolen and returned.
I do not know what to think, he said. The horse is strongerthan ever. Better-tempered,too. I
thank God. My uncle Khosrove,who was in the parlour, became irritated and shouted,
Quiet, man,quiet. Your horse has been returned. Pay no attention to it.
Explanation of the above passage – Mourad wishedhim back. The next morning,they took
the horse back to John Byro’s vineyard and put it in his barn. The dogs followed them
around withoutmaking any sound. Mourad replied they would notbark at them since he
had a way with dogs. Mourad put his arms around the horse,then pressed his nose into the
horse’s nose. He patted him and then they went away. That same afternoon,John came to
Aram’s house in his surrey and showed his motherhis horse that returned. He said he didn’t
know whatto think as the horse is much strongernow with a better temper. He thanked
god. Uncle Khosrove who was in the Parlouragain shouted irritated,‘Quiet,man,quiet. Your
horse has been returned. Pay no attention to it.